How to Draw Like an Artist On a Chalkboard

Sherry at Young House Love, Katie at Bower Power, Kate at Centsational Girl, and Michelle at Ten June are holding a Pinterest Challenge Party this week. It is a party for linking up a project that you completed that you have been itching to do since you pinned it to a board on Pinterest. This challenge gets your butt in gear to just do it! I took the challenge. I wanted to re-learn how to draw on a chalkboard decoratively without being an artist.

Here are a few of the chalkboards I have pinned that were my inspiration.

When I first started working in retail display, drawing signs was one of my jobs. When I stopped working at the store and no longer was creating signs by hand, I lost my touch. This challenge is my time to re-learn what I once knew how to do so well. I am a bit rusty, but over the weekend I had a family birthday celebration at my house and embellished a chalkboard with a menu for the party.

Chalkboard art and lettering is not hard, the process just takes some planning and with each board you create – you will get better. This post contains a step-by-step tutorial as well as a section on tips and tricks.

I know some of you may be saying, but I can’t draw a stick figure or have no idea what to draw? This is when you head over to your boards on Pinterest or look in magazines for quotes, line drawings, and images you like. Look for shapes you like, not complex art. Flowers, fonts, basic shapes are good images to start with. Use a stencil or your doodles until you feel more confident.

I printed out the words “Happy Birthday” using my computer and printer as lettering inspiration. I used the font: EcuyerDAX. To print out swirls and flourishes to use as design elements to copy, install a font that produces decorative elements instead of letters when you hit a letter key on your keyboard.

If you are using a brand new chalkboard – season it first. This will help lessen “ghosting”. Ghosting is when you draw on a chalkboard and after it is erased – you still see the images, but in black. To season a chalkboard: Use a full piece of chalk and run it on its side over the entire surface of the chalkboard. Make sure to rub it in well. Once the board is covered – erase it. It is now seasoned.

Most important tip: Don’t use dry chalk. Dip the chalk in water before drawing on the board. As you work, keep dipping the chalk in water to keep it wet. At first, the chalk lines will look faded – not bright – be patient and let it dry – it will dry bright white or whatever color chalk you are using. You can also keep the board wet and draw on a wet board. I did both.

Keep it simple at first – the more boards you create the better your drawings, centering, and lettering will become.

Make a sketch to determine placement of your images and words. Pick one image to make the focus. In my art it was the cake and copy – Happy Birthday.

Make a border – I used a square at each corner and double lines. I then filled the double lines in with dots of color.

Mix up font styles – Thick, 3-D, thin, serif, shadow, and script. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 3 fonts. One heavy print font, a script font, and one thin caps font.

To find the center of a word or words for one line – count the number of letters and spaces between each word. For instance “Birthday” has 8 letters – an even amount– no spaces, so the center is between the “T” and the “H”. If I wanted “Happy Birthday” all on one line. The letter/spaces count would be: 14 – making the center point between the “B” and “I”. If using both lower case and capital letters, capital letters take up a bit more room, but this is a good rule of thumb to center lettering. Draw the center letter or space on your center point and then draw the other letters out from this center point to each side to complete your word. This is the hardest part of chalkboard art – making free hand letters. Some letters will be bigger and your centering will look off. Mine is off, but it still looks OK – not perfect – but fun and festive. Don’t try for perfection. The imperfections can sometimes add to the charm of chalkboard art.

Use a dime store pencil sharpener to keep the tip of the chalk pointy.

Use colored chalk on the focus image or border.

When you add the wet colored chalk over existing dry white chalk it will appear that the white chalk has been ruined. It has not – just wet and looks faded. When it dries it will look nice and bright again.

How To Draw Like an Artist on a Chalkboard

supplies needed:

Damp rag – Do not use paper towels – they will leave a fiber residue on your board. I used a Handi-Wipe.

Q-Tips – dipped in water are the best erasers to get into tight spots and fix mistakes.

Sewing measuring tape or ruler

Computer fonts or art print-outs, clippings, or stencils to use as visual guides

Sketch pad and pencil

1. Clean board with a wet rag. Repeat to make sure you are getting as much chalk residue off the board before starting your drawing.

2. Use the tape measure to find the center of the board – width and height. You can draw a faint line down the board to help guide you and erase it later with a Q-Tip.

3. I like to do the border first as it helps guide me on how much space I truly have to draw on. Use a ruler to make straight lines if needed.

4. Using your sketch as a guide, start drawing your focal image. If you mess it up, just wipe it away and re-do it. You can also use the chalk transfer method to get your drawing or photocopied image on to the chalkboard.

How to Transfer a Drawing to a Chalkboard

On the back of your drawing, lay a piece of chalk on its side and then rub the back of the paper with the chalk so it is covered with chalk. Flip it over and place the paper/drawing where you want it to go on the chalkboard. Draw over the image with a soft tipped pencil. The pressure from the pencil will transfer chalk to the chalkboard. When you remove the paper you will see a faint copy of your drawing. Go over the lines with chalk to bring your image to life.

6. Add the color last. Remember the white chalk around the newly applied colored chalk will look like it faded since water touched it after it was dry. Just let it be, it will dry bright white again.

7. Erase mistakes and smudges with the tip of a wet rag and/or Q-Tip.

8. Let dry and display.

9. If you want to seal your design on the chalkboard so it will not smudge, spray regular hairspray in an aerosol can lightly over the design.

With a little practice and a few imaginative ideas you too, will be on your way to creating fun and festive chalkboards to use for entertaining or to add some of your personality when decorating your home. Decorative Chalkboards can truly add a festive personal touch to your surroundings.

Comments

Great tutorial and tips. I’ve just been asked by a friend who is a winemaker to create a board for his tasting room. His board is already mounted… High up… Will have to draw while standing on a ladder lol. Should being interesting!

Thank you for your article – it’s just what I’ve been looking for. Would you recommend any different board prep procedures or drawing techniques for a black metal chalkboard? I’m drawing one out for a gift store.

Very good article!
I found this great chalkboard page : help to inspire your family using a chalkboard.https://www.facebook.com/familymsgboard/
very good way to easely make an amazing chalkboard designs for your family

I just stumbled on your blog. Ive been doing chalk art for my job recently and have been looking for different chalk and ideas of how to execute my ideas. Your post was super helpful. Thank you. I am going to be saving this for reference.

Thanks Milna – That is so nice to hear.:-) Once you start creating art and letters for chalkboards, it will become easier every time you create one. It is a fun to see the art come to life as you draw. The best part…if you mess up a section, you can simply erase it and do it over. :-)

Thanks for all the tips, definitely going to try.
Here’s a tip in return (apologies if it has already been given): Use sugar in your water to wet the chalk. It cannot be rubbed out when its dry, you have to use a damp clothe to remove.

This was such a help! I’d like to get into hand lettering chalk boards for work and this was a great place to start. You mentioned at the end that you can seal it with hairspray. If you do that, is there any way to get it off to reuse the board or once you spray it, it’s sealed with that design?

Thanks! A follow up question: I’ve got my board and I’m filling in some big letters. The fill is driving me crazy, though, and it looks uneven. I’ve tried smudging it to even out the fill and that helps a bit but I’ve got these little flecks (from pressing down too hard and changing direction) and it makes it look poorly done. Any tips for filling in large letters so that it looks even and professional?

Hi Linda – It is best to season, but your chalkboard will be OK. When you tire of what is on the chalkboard, clean it off well with a damp lint-free cloth. When it is dry, do the seasoning. If you still see ghosting of your drawing, wipe the seasoning off again with the damp rag, let dry and season again with the chalk. The ghosting should be gone after this.

1. I usually use Crayola brand chalk. I find chalk pencils, at least the ones I have bought are too hard and don’t write well on a chalkboard.

2. You could use waterproof chalk markers. They come in all colors and hold up under wet conditions. Check for them at your local crafts store or on Amazon. Check out Chalk Ink brand. If you just want to keep your drawing smudge-proof, you can spray hairspray over it.

I’ll right away clutch your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
Do you have any? Kindly permit me know in order that I may subscribe.
By the way, what type of card reader services do you provide?
Thanks

Sounds silly to ask, but are you using just regular chalk paint ? How did you make the chalkboard? Can I use colored chalk paint? I have several large frames I’d like to turn into chalkboards not sure what to use for a backing board (they don’t have a back, just a frame) or what to use to paint it ? I know I could use chalkboard paint from store, but what about homemade or furniture chalk paint? Do I have to seal it in anyway? Thanx

I would get “hardboard” cut to the size needed to use in the frames. You can buy this very inexpensively at any home improvement store. It is brown and about 1/8″ thick. Use spray paint chalkboard paint on it to create the chalkboard. Home Improvement and craft stores sell it. Once dry place it in the frame. You do not have to seal it. If you want a different color chalkboard, some companies make other colors. I would not use brush on chalk paint, as it would be hard to get the perfect smooth finish that spray chalkboard paint provides. If you really would like a color that does not come in a can of spray chalkboard paint, use could purchase a paint sprayer to apply it.

Hi Caroline – It is probably the brand of chalk you are using. It could be soft or even old and dried out. Have you tried Crayola brand? This is the brand I use the most. If you are using it, then maybe only wet the board and not the chalk. See if this stops it from crumbling.

To find true center for projects with words, I print it out from the computer with the font I am using. I then fold the word or words in half, with the far left edge lining up with the far right edge. The creased line in the middle is the true center of the word or words. I can then use the actual paper on the chalkboard if it is to scale. If it is not to scale, I just keep it in case I use the design again in the future. Folding in half to find true center is the key.

Hi Diane. My name is Sallie. I have enjoyed your blog – you have some great ideas. I am the activities director of a nursing home. We are replacing our dry erase board with a homemade chalkboard. (Masonite board painted with chalkboard paint, and framed with a wide, ornate frame faux painted to look like an old Italian frame.)

I will be inviting area artists to decorate the border of the chalkboard, with a design pertinent to the season and our region, with colorful chalks. The chalkboard will already be hanging on the wall. I would like to use something to set the chalk, so that the design will last for a month at a time. Your instructions, mention drawing with the board flat, so that the freshly sprayed chalk does not run or bleed. Do you have any other suggestions? This will be permanently mounted, and quite large- three feet by four feet. Thanks for any ideas you might have. Sallie

You can use regular ole hairspray to set the chalk designs and drawings. Use the aerosol can brands. I goes on more even. When it is time to change the drawings, simply wash it off with soap and water.

It is not a silly question. Hairspray will help seal the chalk so it won’t smudge or wipe off easily. Only use a light mist of the cheap stuff while the board is laying flat. Don’t hang it until it is dry. It may appear that the image is gone after spraying, but it will appear after the hairspray has dried. I believe if you wash it with soap and hot water you will be able to clean off the chalkboard to reuse.

I love this! It helps you take your photos or pictures to a larger size and centers them over a large section…if that makes sinces…lol! Great tutorial! Thank you! I want to make a chalkboard sign for my craft shows!

Looking for tips on how to go about one of these for my daughters 1st birthday with ‘stats’ as I have seen beautiful ones.
Before I start, am I assuming it will smudge where I will be drawing onto it? or once outline done and and colour my hand will smudge this?
Also, if I wanted to keep it as a keepsake what is best to use to ‘seal’ the chalk.
Many Thanks

I did a airport table for my grandson in Chalk (because an artist I am not). It was easy to erase each and every time I made a mistake. Now I am wondering is I can paint directly over my chalk. I just wanted to use the chalk to draw it all out. Will acrylic paint still adhere with the chalk underneath?

Hi Tina – If the chalk is not written on too heavy or thick, it should be fine to paint over. If the chalk was applied thickly – I would blot it with a paper towel to lessen the chalk to the point that you can still see to follow your design, then paint. Use a light coat, let it dry, clean up the chalkboard to remove any chalk dust, then apply one more light coat of paint.

Hi Marilyn – Yes, you clean the board after you season it. When you wash the seasoning off – there is still a residue left – this residue creates an evenness to the surface which will make any new chalk markings stand out more. You can season it when you first get it and then again after using it. It will help get rid of any previous chalk markings on the board and make new chalk go on more evenly.

Great tips! I especially love the wet idea and using a pencil sharpener, genius! When I am centering lettering, like your “happy birthday”, the center, for me, would actually come BETWEEN the “b” and the “i”. So you would be putting the letters b and i on either side of the center. If that makes sense. I have handmade many invitations, posters, newsletters etc. and this has always worked for me. Any words and spaces together would have to have an uneven number to use only one letter as the center.
Thanks for all your great info. Happy chalking!

love this tutorial! i have a massive chalkboard in my kitchen/dining area for me to be artistic on & for my kids to mess about on. looking forward to trying out some of your tips. i do have a question, however … you mentioned “seasoning” at the start of your post. and then you started your tutorial by saying to totally wipe clean with a wet cloth. does this not reverse the seasoning or is seasoning forever, no matter how many times you wet wipe the board? also … wet chalk? who knew?? :)

It always takes me a long time to complete projects such as this and I don’t know if it’s because I’m trying too hard to make it perfect or if it takes everyone else just as long. So, I am curious to know how long it took you to make this beautiful piece of chalkboard art?

Hi Alexis – I made the chalkboard in about 20 minutes. The cake I drew on it is something that I am very familiar with drawing. If I am doing new art, it may take longer depending on the details. Before I start drawing, if I make centering marks – the process goes much faster as everything I draw is centered. It is when I don’t make the center marks – thinking I can eye it correctly that I have to redo it usually as something will be way off. The more you do it – the faster you will be able to get it completed. Mine are not perfect – which in chalkboard art sometimes gives it more character.

This is SO helpful! I have seen chalk boards with fancy writing adn wondered how in the world people did them! Stencils? Paint? I had no clue they were done with chalk and with this method! Thank you so much! I’m going to start practicing! Found you through FJI’s Saturday Night Special and will be following, looking forward to more fun posts! Hugs, Leena

Thanks for devaluing my art by stating what I do “isn’t hard” and that “anyone can do it.” Sure, anyone can print out some fonts, trace them over to a black board and paint it in with a fidgeting hand. Thing is, you can ALWAYS look at a homemade piece by someone without artistic talent and tell it was DIY, there’s still something to be said for hiring an artist to create art.
Doing it DIY and looking DIY isn’t hard, you are right. Doing it fluidly and making it look like art, that’s hard, and takes actual talent. DIY is blurring that line in a very bad way.

Hi CJ – I wrote this post with no intention to devalue your art.I am in awe of your talent and others like you – who are true chalkboard artists. What you do is truly amazing and harder than any other type of art in my opinion, as you have to be precise and like you stated – have a very fluid hand, plus a sharp eye to work on such large scale projects while keeping everything in scale and the right perspective. I create chalkboards for myself on a small scale, just like I sew curtains, paint furniture, and try to learn the best way to do things to decorate my home. I can only wish I could draw like you. I love chalkboards and chalkboard art – there is just something so elegant and simple about them that attracts me to them. It is for this reason that I wanted to find out as much as I could about the art and how I could create some in my own style. Please know that you are a huge inspiration to all of us who do not have the natural talent to create amazing quality works of art with chalk.

I sell gorgeous framed chalkboards (regular & magnetic) I use the highest quality chalkboard vinyl in the world…made in France.

I adore using the many fun colors that the chalk-ink markers come in. They are also available in my shop. They are so awesome because they are dust free & smear free. What you write stays on…until you choose to wipe it off!

Hi Elaine – I do not know of any tips since I am a righty and everyone around me is right-handed so I don’t have much insight into a left-handed world. Try a Google search for “How to write on a chalkboard left-handed and see what comes up. Maybe another lefty in the know will read your comment and reply to you, too.

I’m a lefty – I use a piece of thick dowel with a heap of t-shirt scraps folded around one end and secured with a rubber band to form a knob. Rest that end on the chalk board and the dowel forms a rest to steady your left hand.

Hey! Thanks for the tutorial! It really helped me get started on a chalkboard for my daughters wedding reception. I was so not wanting to do this because I just can’t draw but….it was so easy! Thanks for your help.

Hi! Just found you via Pinterest. Great tutorial! I wanted to pass on something that may help as well. I hate my handwriting and could never get it to look good on my chalk board. I discovered that I could just print words or designs out on a piece of white paper. Quickly rub chalk over the back of the paper where the wording/design parts are. Using a lightbox or taping it to a window makes this quick and easy. Then lightly tape paper (chalked part down) on to chalk board. Using a stylis or very blunt pencil, trace your words/design and they will be faintly transferred to the chalk board. Now go over the faint lines with your chalk. What a quick and easy way to look very professional. I almost feel like an artist!

Hi Vicki – this is such a great idea for all of us who don’t think our handwriting is pretty. I am going to try it – sounds easy and if I get pretty results I will be one happy chalkboard artist. Thanks so much for sharing it.

hi diane. my name is belle from malaysia. your site is super interesting especially for this post. i would like to ask you about the chalk painting.is it possible if i want to coat it with matt or glossy spray? for make it long lasting?

Hi Belle – I have not used a protective finish on a chalkboard, but I do not see why it would not work. It would be good to test it on a small section first or on a board you don’t care about to see if the chalk gets eaten by the spray paint. I think I would use matte spray finish on it so it looks more natural, but will still be protected. I would love to hear how it turned out.

Hi Kristen – I left a comment for you on your post, but it did not show up. Not sure if you have comment moderation. Your chalkboard came out great. I bet it made the dessert table a hit at your father-in-laws party. It makes me happy to know that one of my posts inspired you.

Awesome tutorial! I’m definitely going to keep these tips in mind for my own chalkboard decorating. Question- I’ve recently come across “chalk pens.” Do you have any experience with those, and, if so, do they work just as well as regular chalk?

oh…you cannot know HOW timely this was….i’m doing the menu board for my son’s wedding next week. i bought chalk-writers…they’re pens that come in white and 3 other colors. i went EVERYWHERE looking for them and found: they were either out of stock; people looked at me like i was crazy and pointed to chalk; most people never heard of them. i eventually found them at joann’s. THEE only place around. you probably could order them online. i haven’t experimented with mine yet, wanting to try it on a chalkboard i just made covering wall-board with annie sloane’s chalk paint. i think it might be easier than all the wetting and so forth. don’t know how easy it is to erase, though. we’ll have to see. i appreciate all the information about the fonts and dingbats. wish me luck! and i, too, adore fonts. sigh. love, love letters in all their shapes and styles. thank you for an AWESOME post!

Wow. It doesn’t look like you’ve ever lost the touch. It’s just perfect. I am wondering how much our nationality (!) affects this kind of ‘art’. I noticed Bristish or Americans are taught very different style of handwriting at school. And even while grown-up & with own ‘style’ this favors things like this. Here, in Western/Central Europe we write, uhm, very artless way, so it is just a challenge to gains skills letting draw/write the way you do…

Here in the states we had handwriting as one of our subjects of study in grade school. I remember my mom saying she had to learn “penmanship” when she was a kid. Now with computers, today’s children are not learning handwriting skills, just keyboarding :) In college I took a few classes on calligraphy and that helped my own handwriting quite a bit. I love when I see a handwritten note in a beautiful script or print. To me is is art.

I make a lot of chalkboards Diane, and I know they would sell better if I could decorate them. I’m one of those “I can’t draw a stick figure”. I’ll put this on my “to do” list.
thanks so much for the tips! (a lot I already knew, like wet chalk) Because I’ve messed with so many pieces of chalk and chalkboards.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to do some simple drawings. thank you!
gail
ps pinning this. :)

Diane, I just LOVE your creative blog!!! I am putting you on my blogroll! This is the best tutorial I have seen about writing on chalkboard!!! So useful, informative and beautiful!!!!
Your project would be perfect to share at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS, my new weekly linky party! It is live every Wednesday evening at 8:00. Come on over and join in!
Thanks for all the great tips!

Hi Diane: This is such gorgeous artwork–I never would have figured this out by myself in a million years, but now I’m inspired to get a chalkboard and give it a try, because it’s so beautiful. Thank you, and have a lovely week!

So happy to see this info. Have not seen this detailed info on other blogs. I painted a door with chalkboard paint(two coats) and seasoned it but the finish seems rough and it is difficult to even print on; any suggestions on this?
And while I seasoned it there is still ‘ghosting’. I have to admit I disappointed with the door but don’t want to give up.

Hi Dee- Any time you use chalkboard paint on a surface that is not an actual chalkboard it is always going to be a bit rougher. I have a chalkboard that I made by using spray paint chalkboard paint over an existing piece of art. It looks like a chalkboard, but it more porous and ghosts no matter what I do. To not get ghosting and a smooth finish for your art a good quality chalkboard is the way to go – like the ones we had in school :) Office supply stores sell them. If you want to keep working on the door. Perhaps sand it smooth and remove all the dust with a tack cloth and then try using the paint again – rolling or spraying it on will give you a more even coat. There are many chalkboard paints on the market – buy the highest quality brand you can find which also may help.

Hi Serena – I remember seeing the chalkboard markers in a magazine and I thought I clipped the source out so I could try them. The colors would be so much fun to work with. I will have to do an online search for them – Amazon, maybe? I have created art with markers on lighted boards, but they are not as classic looking as a chalkboard.

Yep, get them from Amazon! I got mine there for $24. It’s called “Chalk Ink” and the colors are very rich. Even my kids love to use them! I always admire Trader Joes’ chalk ink signs when I’m there. LOL. They always look so creative!

Wonderful tutorial! I have been wanting a chalkboard like yours for ages now! The only thing is that the only place I really have room for it is on the side of my refrigerator. How to get it to stay there is the problem. Other than using silicone which is forever, how would I get it to stay in place? I thought of magnets but I don’t think it would stay as it would be too heavy. Any thoughts or ideas?

I have a smaller chalkboard on my refrigerator that I have up with sheet magnets. I have them glued all over the back. It stays up well. I found them at the craft store. I think the 3M strips that Amy mentioned would work well for a heavier chalkboard. As long as your fridge doesn’t have condensation on it – They would be perfect and not damage the fridge door at all. They come in different sizes. You could add one to each corner and a few across the top to make sure it was secure.

hi Jenny – I have a clipping of a wedding with a fabulous chalkboard as part of the decorations. It is so inspiring to me, but I have never found it online to pin. I think they add such an elegant, yet simple touch to a wedding -perfect for a bridal shower, too. Is it for your shower or someone else?

Hi Nicole – I love the way chalkboards look when businesses use them. Good luck with chalkboard – lots of fun changing it up when you promote different things. I look forward to chatting with you at upcoming PSMM events.

Hi Sue – so happy you like the cake drawing – that is one item I have drawn since I was a kid. I call it my happy cake :) Just a simple outline of a festive cake. Best kind of art for a chalkboard drawing.

Thanks – I am looking forward to seeing all the projects linked up to the party. More ideas for all of us to PIN :) I haven’t gotten a chance to get over to your site after reading your Sunday post in my Reader to tell you thanks for featuring the decorative screen I made. You are the best!! Thanks XO

Hey there Diane. I was looking for ideas for painting brass and stumbled upon this post you made about chalkboard art. Mind you, I have spent hours looking for good info on Chalkboard art being I am moving from painting windows to designing chalkboards for businesses. I love the tip on wetting the chalk. Chalk paint markers are WAY too expensive. Thanks so much!
TR

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I love all things creative, colorful, and DIY. It is just the way my brain is wired. I can’t add 2+2 to save my life, but I can help you decorate your home in a style that you will love…YOURS! Click to: Read More